Tool for flaring or beading tubing



Nov. 4, 1947. G. M. GRAHAM TOOL FOR FLARING OR BEADING TUBING Filed Nov.24, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. BY Jaye gala TOOL FOR FLARING ORBEADING TUBING Filed Nov. 24, 1943 2 Shegts-Shet 2 INVENTOR.- v xfl BY yX77212 A v fiuga/x proper shape upon the end of the tube.

Patented Nov. 4, 1947 TOOL FOR FLARING R READING TUBING George M.Graham, Detroit, Mich, assignor to Hinckley-Myers Division of Kent-Moore0rganization Inc., Jackson, Mich, a corporation of Michigan ApplicationNovember 24, 1943, Serial No. 511,513

- 4 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved tool for forming the end portionof a metal tube such as flaring or beading the same.

The object is to provide a small portable hand tool of the characterdescribed adapted particularly for use in repair shops and servicestations.

Metal tubing such as hydraulic brake tubing and the like is usuallyflared at the end to assist in coupling the sections of the tubingtogether to complete a system. It is also frequently desirable to form abead in the tube. In repairing such systems the length of tubing whichmay be necessary to make the repair varies widely and it is notconvenient to stock sections having flared or beaded ends in all thelengths that may be required.

This improved tool may be held in the hand to perform any suchoperation. If desired the body of the tool may be gripped in a vise. Thetool includes the die which receives the end of the tube to be formedand the cooperating punch which in conjunction with the die produces-theThe entire assembly is a complete unit and the body of the tool is soformed that the die blocks are held securely in position and in turnsecurely hold the tube in position during the forming operation.

An object is to provide a compact hand tool of this character whereinthe body is so constructed that the die blocks when gripped therein areaccurately aligned with the punch. A meritorious feature of myconstruction is that the die blocks are readily replaceable with otherdie blocks and the body of the tool is so formed as to facilitate thisreplacement. The punch member is also readily replaceable.

The above objects and others will be more fully apparent from thefollowing specification, claims and accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a plan of a tool embodying my invention,

Figure 2 is a front elevation of the tool shown in Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2,

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 4i of Figure 2,

Figure 5 is a fragmentary broken-away sectional view showing the punchmember acting upon the end of a tube during the first step of flaringoperation,

Figure 6 is a fragmentary broken-away view showing the punch memberacting upon the end of the tube during the second step of the flaringoperation,

Figure 7 is an elevation of a fragment of a modified form of my improvedtool,

Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 8-8 of Figure '7,

Figure 9 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view showing a bead formingpunch in operative position.

M improved tool comprises a body portion having bifurcations l0 and I2terminating at one end in a portion I4 cored out to provide a guidewayfor a ram 16. The body is provided at the opposite end with adie-receiving channel portion formed by extensions 18 and 20 of thebifurcations Ill and I2, respectively.

These end extensions are shown in cross-section in Figure 4 and areprovided with oppositely disposed inwardly projecting bottom flangesspaced apart by a space 22 as shown in Figure 4. End extension 20carries a pin 24 which extends freely through an opening provided inextension 18 and is provided with a head 26 as shown in Fig. 3. The pinpermits the extensions l8 and 20 to be yieldingly urged toward eachother but prevents undue separation. The free positioning of pin 24within the opening in extension 18 provides a certain amount of play butconstitutes a positive stop against excessive spreading movement ofextension IS with reference to extension 20. At the same time extensionsI8 and 20 may be moved toward one another against the inherent spring inthe branches of the bifurcation, of which I8 and 20 are simplyextensions, at least to the limit of play permitted by such freepositioning.

These extensions l8 and 26 constitute in combination a channel portionadapted to receive complementary die blocks 30 illustrated particularlyin Figures 3 and 4. These die blocks are so shaped as to exhibitcomplementary semicircular cavities 32 which when disposed in facingrelationship provide a tube-receiving channel. Two pairs of differentdiameter semi-circular passageways are provided. In Figures 3 and 4, atube 34 is shown as received between the die blocks within the channelformed by one of the two pairs of cavities.

The ram 16 is cored out at one end as at 36 to receive a punch member38. The punch member has a flange 40 which positions it within the coredout cavity of the ram and the two ends of the punch member shown inFigures 1, 5 and 6 are differently formed to perform the two necessarysteps in the flaring operations as herein- 3 after described. The punchmember itself and the particular shape of the two ends is old in the artas shown in the patent to Corrigan 2,117,543.

The body is bifurcated for such a distance as to permit ready removal ofthe punch member from the end of the ram and replacement with adifferent punch member. The branch l2 of the bifurcated portion of thebody is arched as shown at I3 to impart spring thereto so that theextensions I8 and 20 of the two branches and ll of the bifurcatedportion of the body are relatively yieldable toward each other to gripthe die blocks 30 securely therebetween.

In Figures 1 to 4, a hand clampingdevice is provided to grip theseextensions I 8 and 20 together against the die blocks. This clampingdevice comprises a pair of cooperating plates 4| and 42 held together bytwo tightening bolts 44- as shown in Figures 1 to 4 inclusive. When thisclamping device is engaged about the. bifurcation of the tool, the toolmay be held in the hand to perform the forming. operation.

ported in line with the. tube receiving passa eway within the dieblocks.

In Figures 7 and 8 is shown. a modified form. of construction. In thismodification, the channel portion is integral as shown in Figure 8;.This channel portion is indicated at 50., Die block 52 are shownpositioned therein. These die. blocks.

have such a combined dimension that. they project above the topsurfaceof the channel A plate 54- is pivoted by a stud: 55; toanear 8 atone side of the channel 53. This plate has a notch 5:0; formed on itsopposite end; adapted to be received over the shank of a headed stud; $2threaded into an car on the opposite sideof the channel. as shownparticularly in Figure 8.,

When it. is desired toposition the die blocks within the channel 5B theplate. may be swung backto the dotted line position shown in Figure '7.and suitable die blocks positioned within; the channel. The plate maythen be swungover these die blocks to the position sl'iownin Figure 8andthe studs tightened to secure; the; die; blocks firmly in place. Toprevent endwise movement, a. plate 64 is held by studs Elto the end: orthe channel as shown in Figure '7,

When it is desired to. operate the toolto flare a piece of tubing theend of the tubing is out; ch square. The proper size die blocks areselected and placed within the channel of the; body and the square cutend of the tubing is allowed to project about one quarter inchbeyond-theinner edge of: the die-blocks toward the punch.

If the device is to be used in a vise the channel portion is placedwithin the vise and just suffh cient pressure placed thereon to holdthe; die blocks in place. If it is to be used with-the; hand clamp suchclamp is similarly tightened against.

the blocks. The proper size punch member or flaring tool is: then placedwithin that end of the ram adapted to receive the same. Therein punchis. then moved toward the; tubing; to Enter the pilot en of; the punchinto the tu ing... nd

of the ram is then tapped with a hammer until the guide line 66 shownthereon in Figures 1, 2 and 5 is brought in line with the end of thebody as shown in Figures 1 and 2. This will have adjusted the tubing tothe proper position between the die blocks for carrying out the flaringoperation. The hand clamp or vise is then tightened down to securelyhold the die blocks against the tubing in such a manner that furtherendwise slippage of the tubing is prevented.

In the first step. of the flaring operation the outwardly concave end ofthe punch shown in Figure 5 is utilized to shape the end of the tube asillustrated in such figure. In the second step of the flaring operationthe opposite end of the punch is employed to finish the shape of theflared end of the tube as shown in Figure 6.

On the construction shown in Figure 9 a bead forming punch is employed.The body 68 of this punch is provided with an arcuate die portion 10which is complementary to an arcuate die portion 12 on die blocks 14 Theend of the punch also is provided with a projecting male member 75 of asize to enter the end of the tube as shown.

The end of the tube being shaped seats within the bottom of the recessabout the male portion 1 6-. The tube is held against endwise slippagebe tween the die blocks as hereinabove described in connection with thedescription of the flaring operation. When the impact pressure isapplied to the end of the tube by the punch the tube isupset between thecomplementary arcuate die faces Ml and T2 of the punch and die blocksrespectively forming a. circumferential bead about. the tube.

What I claim is:

1. In a tube shaping tool, a bifurcated body terminating at one end in ajuncture of the two branches of the bifurcation in a tubular guidewayfora ram and terminating at the opposite end in the free end portions ofthe two branches of the bifurcation, said free ends beingv complementaryand spaced apart and shaped to define a channel therebetween in linewith the tubular guideway, a ram reciprocally mounted within saidtubular guideway-, complementary die blocks removably received withinthechannel between the free ends of the two branches of the bifurcation, apin connecting the free ends of the two branches of the bifurcationholding them against separation while permitting relative limitedmovement of such two branches toward and away from each other, said pindisposed at the end of the channel between said free ends constitutingan end stop for the die blocks, and clamping means embracing the freeends of said branches. holding the die blocks therebetween.

2. A tube shaping tool comprising, in combination, a bifurcated body,the juncture of the branches thereof being formed into a, sleeve adaptedto slidably receive a ram, a dieblock securing channel formed fromopposed faces of said branches extending in line with said sleeve, onebranch of said bifurcation being arched outwardly between said sleeveand said channel to impart resilience to the branch enabling the same tobe resistingly swung toward the other branch to vary the distancetherebetween, and a pin connecting said branches adjacent to the freeends thereof serving as a stop for limiting lateral movement of thebranches. away from one another, said pin extending across said channelat the outer end thereof also serving as a stop limiting endwisemovement of' the die blocks inserted in the channel.

3. In a tube shaping tool, a, bifurcated body terminating at one end ina juncture of the two branches of the bifurcation in a, tubular guidewayfor a ram and terminating at the opposite end in two spaced apart freeend portions of the two branches of the bifurcation, at least one ofsaid branches being flexible for resisted movement toward and away fromthe other branch, said free end portions being complementary and shapedto define a channel therebetween in line with the tubular guideway, aram reciprocally mounted within said tubular guideway, complementary dieblocks removably received within the channel between the free endportions of the two branches of the bifurcation, and means embracin thefree end portions of said branches and adapted to compress the free endportions toward one another to cause the latter to tightly clamp the dieblocks therebetween.

4. In a tube shaping tool, a bifurcated body terminating at one end in ajuncture of the two REFERENCES CITED The following references are ofrecord in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,795,358 Arndt Mar. 10, 19312,117,543 Corrigan May 17, 1938 1,077,812 Derbyshire Nov. 4, 19131,526,339 Henry Feb. 17, 1925 1,754,637 McGough Apr. 15, 1930 1,791,887Davies et a1 Feb. 10, 1930 2,297,885 Graf et a1 Oct. 6, 1942 1,560,186Muth Nov. 3, 1925

